The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has canvased for more local content in building construction to make houses more affordable to Nigerians.

The Minister made this call Tuesday while commissioning 100 new accommodation blocks at the Nigerian Navy Barracks at Kuje, a suburb of Abuja.

Malam Bello remarked that the call has become necessary to enable practitioners in the building industry to look inward towards providing cheap, affordable and decent housing in line with the Federal Government’s National Housing Policy.

The Minister emphasized that the commissioning of the 100 units of houses would also go a long way in reducing housing deficit in the country.

He urged other organizations to emulate the Nigerian Navy and build houses for their workforce to motivate and improve the operational efficiency of their personnel.

Malam Bello, thus, commended the Chief of Naval staff and his team for the successes recorded in the project, especially in view of the fact that all the material used was sourced locally.

His words: “As you brace up to meeting your social needs, which are crucially necessary for operational effectiveness, I wish to reassure the Navy that the FCT Administration will not waver in providing necessary support to her towards achieving her laudable objectives.”

The Minister said that the project is remarkable because it was made possible by the Nigerian Navy in-house human resource capacity and 100 per cent locally sourced material.

“The use of compressed earth blocks in the execution of this project is a laudable and commendable idea that should be encouraged as it would cut down the cost of construction and conserve the scarce foreign exchange,” he added.